Man charged in death of woman found in Red Deer

A 24-year-old man has been charged in the death of woman found in Red Deer last winter.

RCMP believe that 27-year-old Talia Nellie Meguinis was killed in February and her body was left in an industrial area in the central Alberta city.

After a seven-month investigation, police charged a man last week with second-degree murder and offering indignity to human remains.

The man is to appear in court Wednesday.

Meguinis’ family released a statement Monday thanking the public for respecting their privacy and spoke about the kind of person Meguinis was.

"She was a devoted and loving mother and hard worker," said Sally Simeon, Meguinis’ step-mother. "She was generous to a fault. She would never turn anyone away who needed something whether it was money or a place to stay."

Police said Meguinis lived in the Calgary area and arrived in Red Deer a few days before her body was found.